Speeding tickets are among the most common offenses for which people appear in court. While safe driving and adherence to speed limits is always important, there are times when unavoidable things happen. For example, you may go from one speed limit zone to another and fail to slow down quickly enough. Next thing you know, you’ve been issued a speeding ticket. In addition to retaining an experienced attorney, it can be helpful to understand the basics of the law. Here are some things you should know about speeding tickets in North Carolina.
You May Not Be Required to Appear in Court
It is your right to appear at trial to dispute your speeding ticket. However you may not be required to appear in court by paying your citation before the scheduled date. Whether or not it is in your best interest to appear is something that should be decided on a case-by-case basis. It’s usually considered unwise to automatically decide not to appear in court, because it may be possible to reduce your penalty. Your attorney can review the details of your case and advise you of the best course of action.
Radar Cannot Automatically Prove Guilt
Although radar is a valuable law enforcement tool, it cannot stand alone as convicting evidence. Along with radar evidence, the issuing officer must also provide additional testimony that verifies the speeding offense. Radar is used to corroborate this testimony.
Driving School May Be an Option for You
It’s always a good idea to brush up on important skills such as driving. However, attending driving school can be beneficial in other ways as well. Even if driving school is not mandatory, you may want to attend in order to obtain better results at your trial. Your attorney can discuss whether or not taking a driving course is a good course of action when it comes to your case.
It May be Unwise to Pay Your Citation Through the Mail
While you might be tempted to mail off your citation payment right away, it may not be the wisest thing to do. When you mail your payment, you are admitting guilt. You are convicted on the speed you were charged with, and will have no further opportunities for a reduction. Before deciding to pay your citation, consult with an attorney, who may be able to obtain a lesser charge, or recommend a Prayer for Judgment Continued (PJC).
An Attorney Can Save You Money
When you get a speeding ticket, it’s important to obtain legal representation. At the Law Office of John C. Fitzpatrick, we offer quality legal representation at affordable rates for speeding ticket cases. With the high cost of court fees and insurance premiums, hiring us can actually save you money! We’ll work hard to obtain the best results for your case. If you’ve been charged with speeding, don’t delay. Contact us today to schedule your confidential consultation!